Natural speed please
Many critics argued that the reason why Sherlock Holmes achieved huge success in Late Victorian Age was his ability in solving puzzling cases: with this skill he embodied the character of the collective unconscious who ensured the regular course of justice, he reflected the confidence in the power of reason to dominate reality and eliminate the unknowns.
In an interview, Conan Doyle revealed: “The curious thing is how many people around the world are fervently convinced that Holmes is a human being. I get letters addressed to him, asking for his autograph… I get letters addressed to his other stupid friend, Watson... I’ve even had ladies writing to say that they would be very glad to be his housekeeper.”
Since people thought that Holmes was real, many of them addressed the older brother of Sidney Paget (the original illustrator for the stories) as Sherlock Holmes, because Sidney based his drawings off of him. They wore black bands on their arms when he 'died' and sent death threats to Conan Doyle because he 'killed' him.
The Strand Magazine carried most of Sherlock Holmes stories: the supposed death of the sleuth brought hundreds of cancellations.
Doyle was knighted ("Sir Arthur") in 1902 for his work in Boer War propaganda: he had written a short pamphlet titled The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, which justified the UK's imperialistic role in the Boer War and was widely translated. Yet, some said he was knighted because of the publication of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
